What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Gardner
People
Population	1,375Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
	Unity and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Gardner and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Unity and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Unity School District	Gardner
High school in town	None in town	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.